IMAGE: India’s Virat Kohli engaging in a thoughtful conversation with Jasprit Bumrah during Team India’s intense net session in Chennai. Photograph: BCCI / X

Ask any seasoned international cricketer, and they’ll emphasize the critical nature of the second season following a standout debut. While soaring expectations are one part of the challenge, another significant aspect is the opposition’s growing familiarity with the player’s game, backed by substantial on-ground analysis.

As Yashasvi Jaiswal aims to overcome the notorious second-season syndrome, he is fortunate to be practicing against Jasprit Bumrah, arguably the best bowler to test his mettle before the real contests begin. During Monday’s rigorous net session, Bumrah repeatedly dismantled the Mumbai youngster’s defenses, often sending his off-stump cartwheeling with ease. Jaiswal would certainly hope that his shaky form in the nets doesn’t spill over into the opening Test against Bangladesh, set to start on September 19.

Jaiswal’s upcoming season is packed with 10 Tests, and he enters with a burgeoning reputation as a future cricketing megastar, having already amassed over 1000 runs in his first 9 Tests, with more than 700 runs against England in a single series.

IMAGE: India Coach Gautam Gambhir energetically participating in the net session alongside KL Rahul. Photograph: BCCI / X

However, Jaiswal’s critics are quick to point out his struggles in a few of those nine games, particularly on the bouncy pitches of Centurion and Newlands (Cape Town) against South Africa, where he appeared uncomfortable against pace and bounce. While he excelled in the England series dominated by slow bowlers, his real test looms with five Tests in Australia later this year.

Before squaring off against Australian pace titans like Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood, Jaiswal must first navigate the challenges posed by Bangladeshi speedsters Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana, who will also test him with their pace and bounce.

Jaiswal’s first-class season has had a rocky start, evidenced by two low scores in the Duleep Trophy where bowlers like Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed exploited extra bounce to trouble him—a challenge he continues to work on.

On the day of practice, Bumrah bowled extensively to Jaiswal, twice clean bowling him and consistently beating his outside edge. Bumrah skillfully swung the ball away from Jaiswal, who appeared outpaced and outmaneuvered by both pace and swing.

Jaiswal was not in his best form; it was evident as his stumps were scattered more than once. He was caught playing with hard hands, pushing aggressively at deliveries.

IMAGE: India Captain Rohit Sharma making his way to the net session in Chennai. Photograph: BCCI / X

Jaiswal was troubled not just by Bumrah but also by net bowlers like Simarjeet Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Gurjanpreet Singh, who frequently beat his outside edge.

In a mentoring moment, Virat Kohli was seen conversing with Jaiswal, offering insights into where he might be going wrong. Both Kohli and Jaiswal then took turns at the crease, each batting for nearly an hour and facing around 50 balls.

During this session, Kohli displayed his signature cover drives and on-drives with elegance. Meanwhile, Jaiswal focused on leaving many length deliveries, especially those from Bumrah.

IMAGE: India’s Kuldeep Yadav showcasing his skills during the net session. Photograph: BCCI / X

The practice pitch made of red soil provided recent bounce, making shot-making challenging. Bumrah managed to trouble Kohli as well, with several deliveries targeting his pads.

After Bumrah’s nearly five-over spell concluded, both batters faced practice bowlers. Jaiswal appeared more comfortable against spinners, occasionally rocking back to execute square cuts.

Rishabh Pant, known for his aggressive approach towards left-arm spinners, continued his dominance by effortlessly dispatching deliveries from Ajit Rams and M Siddharths.

This comprehensive preparation highlights the intense efforts and varied challenges faced by Team India as they gear up for their upcoming fixtures.